The Clash [Paperback]

Bob Gruen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2002

Through the 70s, working as chief photographer for Rock Scene magazine, Gruen had become designated lens to the decade's most celebrated acts including the Stones, Elton John, Led Zeppelin and Ike and Tina Turner. He was John and Yoko's personal photographer after they came to New York in 1972 and had toured with the Ramones, Blondie and Patti Smith. When he met the Clash, however, a unique synergy of mutual respect and musical passion was established, leading to six years of documenting the globally worshipped band's adventures. As a fan and friend, across multiple tours, Gruen took the stunning rock'n'roll shots compiled in this book. Whether Strummer, Jones, Simenon and Heddon were rocking out on stage, meeting Debbie Harry and Warhol, or posing at top of the World Trade Centre, Gruen was there, up close with his genius for iconic framing. The images born of this ideal marriage of classic band and definitive photographer will strike a major chord with all fans of rock'n'roll, from Elvis to Limp Bizkit.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'This is the stuff. Absolute mayhem' --Joe Strummer --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Vision on (February 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1903399335
• ISBN-13: 978-1903399330
• Product Dimensions: 13 x 10 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,014,662 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Are you a punk or are you just fakin'?", July 19, 2003

By 

William Errickson Jr. (Raleigh, NC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Clash (Paperback)

This is just about the finest book there is on the almighty Clash, the only one that can really make you feel, if only for a white hot moment, that you're *there* while the band bashes out its masterpieces less than a dozen feet away, in some dank forgotten club a quarter century ago. You're so close for a second that you can read the phrases stenciled on Joe's military garb, count the zippers on Simmo's trousers, or feel the sweat from Jonesy's unshorn locks splashing on your face, not to mention the gob of a thousand punks flying over your head. And look who's in the crowd with you! Lester Bangs, Debbie Harry, Andy Warhol (altho' he's probably ligging about backstage), Martin Scorsese, that young ne'er-do-well of the NYC scene Harley Flanagan, even Johnny Thunders has stopped by on his way to cop.Man, could the Clash dress: from the Pollock-esque/Sex shop/Teddy/Rude boy of the early years, to the "collars-up mate"/perfect quiff & creepers days of 'London Calling,' to the quasi-military/cop fatigues of the final era. Check out the guys in an American supermarket, Joe counting out his "Yankee dollar"; or hanging out in Bob Gruen's NYC apartment watching NY Dolls' videos; or goofing off, in full rock leathers, at various airports round the globe. Really, please, and with all sincerity, can I go back and just *be* with those guys, come on, huh, please, just for a minute or two?But I can't, and you can't, and this book (along with Johnny Green's 'A Riot of Our Own' memoir) is the closest we're gonna get in these sore days. Bob Gruen's stunning, intimate, exhilirating photos over six years of the Clash's career are second to none, revealing them in all their raging glory. So open the book, grab a Guiness, blast the tunes, and relive the true punk era, and thank your lucky stars, bittersweet that they may be, that there was never any reunion. This is the best you're gonna get.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Find!, August 30, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Clash (Paperback)

This book is fantastic! Although it may seem a bit expensive at first, it pays for itself and then some! It has some of the more common Clash photographs in it, but it is also loaded with rare ones. The pictures are big and clear, and captions are given on many of them by The Clash, Bob Gruen, and others associated with them. It's really cool to get their take on it, and you get some background stories too. I can't reccommend it more highly.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You must purchase this book immediately!, May 20, 2002

By 

twp77 "the_web_princess" (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Clash (Paperback)

Rock photographer Bob Gruen does not fail to deliver one of the best rock photo books I have ever seen. Every Clash fan must get this book immediately! Pages and pages of never before seen Clash photos, including the boys in between shows, pics with family members, etc. An absolute masterpiece of a book. Excellent work Bob!